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“Lovely setting, such poor food!”

written by ReadingKate on 29/09/2011

When arranging to meet friends in Pangbourne on 25 Sept 2011 they suggested the Swan as they had visited some years before!

Upon arrival we were able to secure a table on the terrace overlooking the Thames, on such a lovely day a real treat! It was early lunchtime and not yet busy.

We were meeting for a roast & on offer were Beef and Chicken, with veg, potatoes, yorkshire puds - all that you would expect!

Disappointing is an understatement, the beef was smothered in gravy so much so that you couldn't see the grey overcooked meat! A small floret of broccoli, a couple of very large pieces of carrot and 2 roast pots! Yorkshire must have been frozen, lacking in taste, body and no crunch! The chicken only fared better as it was a half roast with gravy in a jug!

We were still somewhat hungry after this meagre offering for £10.95 so opted for a pud! Apple pie and custard, sadly microwaved so the lovely looking pastry was now soft! 3 of us opted to share a couple of Cheese and Biscuits! A mistake! A lump of cheddar, another of Wenslydale (I think) and a Red Leicester - none had much taste! The biscuits however were crispy. I think from the appearance that these must have been plated in advance, the celery offering of a 2 inch piece was brown at both ends and was sent back - nothing was returned! The grapes about 4 loose on the plate were over cold and lacking in any nice appearance.

At about 2 the pub ran out of roasts as had sold over 60 - I think these people were lucky! The staff were disorganised, rarely enough people behind the bar and a queue rapidly formed for both drink and food orders!

Such a shame as a truly lovely location!

Not an experience that we will be having again!